Flexibility in noisy cell-to-cell information dynamics

TL;DR

This paper explores how cells maintain robust information exchange despite parameter variability, revealing a flexible dynamical response that is consistent across different cellular models and linked to phase transition theory.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mapping between stochastic cell dynamics and Landau's phase transition theory, highlighting the robustness and flexibility of cellular information exchange mechanisms.

Findings

Different cell dynamics lead to similar responses.

The Landau model captures the dynamics of information exchange.

Cellular information robustness is linked to phase transition properties.

Abstract

Exchange of molecules allows cells to exchange information. How robust is the information to changes in cell parameters? We use a mapping between the stochastic dynamics of two cells sharing a stimulatory molecule, and parameters akin to an extension of Landau's equilibrium phase transition theory. We show that different single-cell dynamics lead to the same dynamical response -- a flexibility that cells can use. The companion equilibrium Landau model behaves similarly, thereby describing the dynamics of information in a broad class of models with coupled order parameters.